What led to the latest flare-up between Kosovo and Serbia?

The appointment of newly-elected ethnic Albanian mayors in Kosovo towns where Serbs are in the majority has deepened old social fissures in the Balkan nation.

The tensions between Serbia and Kosovo spilt out into the open last week and escalated into violence when ethnic Serbs clashed with Kosovo police and the NATO peacekeeping force known as KFOR.

Since Friday, ethnic Serbs have mobilised in front of the local Zvecan municipal building in northern Kosovo to prevent the newly-elected ethnic Albanian mayors from assuming office.

The security personnel were forced to use tear gas and stun grenades in the town and municipality of Zvecan as protestors attempted to invade a government building.

KFOR forces have been attempting to protect three municipal buildings in an area with a Serb majority.

The genesis of the clashes lies in the local elections last month.

Serbs -- who account for about six percent of Kosovo’s population -- boycotted the elections in northern towns where they are in the majority.

The move allowed ethnic Albanians to win and gain control of four Serb-majority municipalities, including North Mitrovica, following a turnout of less than 3.5 percent.

The EU said the low turnout did not provide municipalities with political solutions for the long term.

Amid rising tensions, Serbia sent its army towards the border with Kosovo, insisting that NATO should prevent “violence against local Serbs in Kosovo”.

At least 25 people were injured, and NATO has condemned the clashes as “totally unacceptable”.

On Monday, NATO announced that Italian and Hungarian peacekeepers had been injured during the clashes, while police in Kosovo said at least five people had been detained.

What other nations say

Türkiye has called for dialogue and peace, with the country's Foreign Ministry expressing "concern" over the possible impact on the security in the region.

The country has called on all parties to "avoid violence and not take actions that will escalate tensions" and for KFOR to prevent escalations while expressing its sadness over the injuries to KFOR soldiers.

In a written statement, it said, "The only way to reduce tension and establish lasting peace and stability in the region is to make progress in the ongoing dialogue process."

The US and EU have hit out at Kosovo authorities, while on Tuesday, China lent its support to Serbia amid the latest episode of conflict in the Balkan region.

Who recognises whom

Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008, and Belgrade and its allies Beijing and Moscow have refused to recognise it, effectively preventing Kosovo from having a seat at the United Nations.

Serbia does not recognise Kosovo's independence, continuing to lay claim to the territory, despite having no formal control.

Serbs in Kosovo remained largely loyal to Belgrade, especially in the north, where they make up a majority and reject every move by Pristina to consolidate its control over the region.

Kosovo's independence is widely recognised by around 100 countries, including Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Türkiye and the UK.

A protracted dispute

The discord concerning Kosovo dates back hundreds of years, with Serbians upholding the area as fundamental to its nation-state and religion.

Kosovo was historically ruled under the ancient Serbian kingdom, the Ottoman Empire and more recently the former Yugoslavia.

Today an estimated 50,000 Serbs living in Kosovo's north refuse to recognise institutions under the capital, Pristina and typically use license plates and documentation issued by Serbian authorities.

Experts say the International community's unwillingness to resolve the issue gave way to rising tensions between the two ethnic groups, resulting in a crackdown by Serbia's army against ethnic Albanians pushing for independence.

In 1999, the conflict was resolved through military intervention by NATO.

Despite the end of the bloodshed, tensions remain between the communities.

Due to the ongoing situation, tensions continue among the communities as the Balkan region has been unable to stabilise since Yugloslavia's dissolution in the 1990s.